Federal Member for Wannon, David Hawker, today officially launched the Branxholme Community Hall redevelopment at Branxholme.

Mr Hawker said Australian Government Regional Partnerships programme funding of more than $35,000 assisted the Combined Pre-Schools of Southern Grampians Incorporated to construct toilets, a storage area, a covered deck, reception area and also refurbish the existing kitchen and meeting rooms.

“This project has extended the existing community hall into a multi-purpose community centre that allows for a greater range of health, education, recreational and sporting activities,” Mr Hawker said.

“The Community Hall incorporates the local kindergarten which until now did not meet Victorian State Government standards. These improvements have been important to ensure quality facilities for children attending the pre-school and to help the town cope with the recent influx of families to the region”, he said.

Mr Hawker congratulated the local community for working together to access Regional Partnerships programme funding.

“I would particularly like to thank the Greater Green Triangle Area Consultative Committee for helping to bring this project to fruition,” he said.

“I would also like to acknowledge the financial support provided by The Southern Grampians Shire, the Branxholme Hall Committee and Timbercorp.”

The Regional Partnerships programme continues the Australian Government’s approach of working with local communities to support their ideas. A total of $271.2 million is available under the Regional Partnerships programme from 2006-07 to 2009-10.

Mr Hawker said the Regional Partnerships programme would deliver benefits to communities well into the future, not only from programme funding, but from the higher levels of economic activity and improved social amenity which the programme was generating.

Since its inception in July 2003, the Regional Partnerships programme has, on average, attracted a further three dollars from other sources for every dollar invested by the Australian Government.

“Communities should contact their local Area Consultative Committee at www.regionalpartnerships.gov.au or www.acc.gov.au if they wish to seek funding through the Regional Partnerships programme,” Mr Hawker said.